For the next several days at local motels, fast-food places, plus the mall and shopping centers, you won’t be able to avoid them.

Players from 35 different girls softball teams from across North Carolina are converging on Shelby City Park for the Tar Heel league state tournaments. Play runs Thursday through Sunday as a state champ will be crowned in five age divisions.

Five of the entries are all-star squads from Shelby. Three of those local teams face opening games at 2 p.m. Thursday.

The 10-and-under all-star crew faces West Chatham in its first game at field No. 2 at the new City Park complex. The 12-and-under Shelby squad engages Perquimans at the same time over at the Bill Proctor Field on the City Park grounds. The Shelby 14-and-under all-stars tangles with West Harnett at the Arky Arakelian Field.

In the double-elimination format, all three of those Shelby all-star clubs will be back in action on Friday regardless of the outcome of their opening contests.

The other two Shelby all-star teams open action on Friday.

Shelby’s 8-and-under all-star unit plays at 10 a.m. at field No. 1 in the new complex. They will take on the Burke County Gals at 10 a.m. Win or lose, it would be a quick turnaround as the Shelby-Burke victor has a 4 p.m. contest later in the day, while the first-round loser jumps into lower-bracket action at 4 p.m. as well.

In the 17-year-old age division, the Shelby all-star squad is one of only three teams in the field (with Morganton and Burke County). They open at 4 p.m. at the Arakelian Field against Burke County then play again at 6 p.m. against Morganton in the round-robin set-up. Friday’s results will determine the seedings for Saturday’s tournament matchups in that classification.

The tournament’s opening ceremonies are set for 12:30 p.m. Thursday. Spectators are encouraged to bring chairs and tents to the fields. Concessions are available.